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So that crazy selfie with the spy balloon? It's real.

Defense And Security,Chinese Spy Balloons,Pentagon,US Military,Air Force

From the Left

The Pentagon on Wednesday confirmed the authenticity of a photo depicting an Air Force U-2 pilot taking a selfie with the Chinese spy balloon in the background in early February, one day before it was shot down off the East Coast of the U.S.

Journalist and author Chris Pocock posted the image on Tuesday, raising questions as to whether the photo, giving a startling view of the infamous surveillance balloon from the legendary spy plane, was real.

“I saw that report. I can confirm the photo’s authenticity,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.

CNN first reported that the photo had been taken and had quickly gained “legendary status” in military circles.

The high-altitude surveillance aircraft had been sent up as the balloon traversed the U.S., and the Pentagon later cited imagery taken by the pilots to say the airship was “capable of conducting signals intelligence collection operations.”

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